Tennessee Valley Authority Economic Development
News
Three communities chosen for Valley TaP Program
Nov. 20, 2007 — Three communities in the Tennessee Valley have been chosen through an independent judging process to participate in the second year of a program offered by TVA to help communities improve their economic development efforts and strategy in recruiting target industries.
The Dyersburg-Dyer County Chamber of Commerce (Tenn.), the Franklin County Industrial Development Board (Tenn.), and the Shoals Economic Development Authority (Ala.) were chosen to participate in The Valley Targeted and Prepared Community Program (The Valley TaP Program). Boyette Levy, a firm hired by TVA to administer the program, selected the communities from 18 applicants in the TVA region.
The Valley TaP Program features a planning process that includes an in-depth evaluation of a community’s resources and strengths to target and recruit specific industry segments, which could result in additional jobs and investments. The program also helps communities identify key target industries and actively recruit them.
Boyette Levy provides participants with strategic advice and communications support for economic and community development and designs and administers the program. Four Valley communities were selected by Boyette Levy to participate in the program last year.
“Valley communities that completed the planning process offered by The Valley TaP Program during the first year of the program were very pleased with the assistance that was provided,” said TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley. “We believe this new round of communities also will enjoy great benefits for their economic development efforts as a result of the program.”
Bradley said the program has received great interest since it began in 2006, with 65 communities submitting applications from across the Tennessee Valley region. Communities that participated in The TaP Program last year were the Clarksville/Montgomery County Economic Development Council and Weakley County Economic Development Board in Tennessee; Cullman Economic Development Agency in Alabama; and Greater Starkville Development Partnership in Mississippi.
“The Valley TaP Program planning process gives communities the tools they need to enhance their competitiveness for new jobs and investments,” said Del Boyette of Boyette Levy. “The communities selected to participate in this year’s program have already demonstrated strong local leadership and a sound commitment to supporting economic and community development efforts.”
Boyette Levy is an economic development, public policy, and communication strategy firm that helps communities, organizations, and governments accomplish their strategic aims. The company provides “outside the box” thinking for its clients to help them determine how they tell their stories, develop their businesses, and improve their communities.